Bobbin spinning machine



Dec. 8, 1942. JACKSON 2,304,097

BOBBIN SPINNING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1941 m w w Patented Dec. 8, 1942 BOBBIN SPINNING momma Arthur L. Jackson, West Asheville, N. C., assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. C., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. 387,721

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of rayon thread and is more particularly concerned with the manufacture thereof according to bobbin spinning methods.

In the bobbin spinning of rayon yarn it is customary to lead freshly extruded filaments from the coagulating bath across a stretching device and then directly to a collecting bobbin on which the yarn is wound in package form. After the package is prepared, the yarn body is subjected to the usual after-treatments until it is in finished form ready for twisting and coning in preparation for shipment to the consumer.

In the interest of operating economy, bobbin spinning on a commercial scale ordinarily involves the use of spinning machines of a substantial size provided with a large number of spinning units. Thus, a plurality of spinnerets are disposed in an elongated coagulating bath and the thread from each is led across a stretching device to a thread guide, the movement of which causes it to be laid up on a rotating spinning bobbin according to a pattern predetermined by movement of an elongated traverse bar to which the plurality of individual thread guides are attached.

More recently, a new scheme of bobbin spinning which might be known as a special type of discontinuous spinning has come into use. This spinning involves the employment of one or more thread-storage, thread-advancing devices disposed intermediate the spinneret and the collecting bobbin so that the thread, before collection in package form, may be subjected to one or more of the normal after-treating operations.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the threading up of an entire spinning machine is a rather time-consuming operation, particularly where some of the after-treating steps are to be effected before the thread is wound in package form. As a result of this, it has long been thought desirable to have some means for supplying, at once, an empty bobbin onto which the thread continuously produced by the machine may be wound during the domng of a package which has been completed, thus eliminating the necessity for shutting down a unit of the machineduring inherently complex, costly to install and troublesome to maintain. Furthermore, the. space occupied by the spiders is so great as to amount to an important item when their installation is considered on a commercial basis.

With a view to overcoming the foregoingdifiiculties, it was proposed to provide a plurality of thread guides in fixed position on atraverse bar which could be shifted longitudinally to place the plurality of thread .guides under alternate bobbins of the machine. By this arrangement, the entire spinning operation could be carried out by driving alternate bobbins and during the dofling of those bobbins the only adjustment of the machine necessary, was the longitudinal shifting of the traverse bar to place the series of thread guides in registry with the set of empty bobbins. A diiilculty, however, was encountered in connection with this system for, due to the fact that the traverse bar periodically changes its direction of movement, it is inherently subject to substantial vibration. This vibration makes it practically impossible to maintain a longitudinally shiftable traverse bar in any position of adjustment. Furthermore, because of the fact a dofi with incident threading up before spinning can be resumed.

The development of the art along this line has followed two separate courses. One of these involves the use of a pivotally mounted spider or the like having two arms each provided with a spinning bobbin. As one of the bobbins is filled, the spider is rotated 180 to place an empty bobbin in spinning position and the thread, after being broken, is immediately wound thereon, while the operator, at his leisure, may dofi the full bobbin from the other arm of the spider. This type of construction is theoretically quite satisfactory. However, because of the fact that that all of the thread guides were shifted at once, a number of operators were required to lead simultaneously the various threads to. their respective empty bobbins.

It is therefore an object of this invention to overcome all of the foregoing difiiculties and to provide for the laying up of thread on alternate sets of bobbins in such a way that there is no necessity for threading up the entire machine when a change-over is made from one set of bobbins to another and which overcomes the structural and mechanical difllculties of prior machines provided for this purpose.

According to this invention it is possible for a single operator to doif an entire bobbin spinning machine quickly and efliciently without any loss of spinning time.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description thereof in con junction with the annexed drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a portion of a bobbin spinning machine showing a preferred form of traversing thread guide assembly constructed according to this invention and indicating in broken lines an alternative position thereof a Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, the bobbins being shown in outline for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a view partially in elevation and partially in section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, the bobbin being deleted; and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the shiftable member connecting the thread guiding element :Whileligures 1 and 2 of the drawing show only a portion of one spinning unit of a bobbin spinning machine, it is to be understood that the device of the present invention is intended for II and II are provided and that underlying these there is a traverse bar l2 of square cross-section. Traverse bar l2, when the machine is in operation, is caused to move to and fro axially of the bobbins and thereunder at a rate of speed and following a pattern controlled by any conventional meansnot shown.

Traverse bar l2, at spaced points along its length lying half-way between the axes of each two bobbins constituting'a pair, that is, half-way between the components-of a pair and not between pairs, is provided with apertures for the reception of respective shanks l3 of a plurality of threadin up guides ll, each of which has a closedtriangular front portion l5, and rearwardly of the base of triangular portion I5, arms l6 and I1. Inasmuch as each shank I3 is rather loosely received in its aperture in traverse bar l2, arm I1 is provided with an end l8 received in a socket in traverse bar l2. Clearly end I8 of arm serves to lock the entire threading-up guide It against rotation about shank l3 and hence to maintain it in a plane generally parallel to the plane of movement of traverse bar I2. A rubber washer IQ of an internal diameter slightly less than the diameter of shank l3 serves to maintain threading-up guide II in position against movement in its plane. By the use of a rubber member such as l9, and by providing arm H with the end l8, it is possible to make guide ll of glass or other chemical resistant material and yet to hold the same firmly in any desired position.

Shank l3 of each threading-up guide l4 serves as a shaft for supporting a traversing thread guide holder 20. Holder 20 is provided with depending legs 2|, adapted to straddle traverse bar l2, each leg having a hole at 22 through which shank I3 is passed. By this arrangement holder 2| is rendered pivotally movable about shank I3.

At the end of holder 20 remote from the point of pivotal attachment to shank l3, there is a further aperture at 23 for the reception of the shank of a pin 2| on which traversing thread guide 25 is pivotaily mounted. So that aperture 23 may lie in the vertical plane of the axis of either bobbin III or H, a bridge 2, connecting legs 2| of holder 20, is arranged to present beveled faces to rest on the top of the traverse bar. 'I'hesefaces serve as stops and will position the holder in either of the positions shown in Figure 1. A set screw 21, threaded in the upper end of holder 20, holds the shank of pin 2i inposition in the aperture at 23.

Traversing thread guide 25 includes a central or hub portion 28, a bifurcated package contacting thread guiding element 29 and a counterweight 3|. Hub portion 28 has a central bore throimh which pin 24 is passed, the fit being such that the hub is freely rockable about the pin. At

its lower end, hub 28 is provided with a threaded 75 adjusting the distance of the weight from the axis.

of the hub or by the use of different weights.

Extending from hub 28, diametrically opposite rod 3|, is an integral split socket 32 exteriorly threaded to receive a sleeve 33 thereover and adapted to receive therein shank ll of bifurcated thread guide 29. Sleeve 33 is undersize so that when-in threaded engagement with socket 32 the latter will be radially compressed to frictionally grip and hold shank ll in position.

In Order to place the traversing thread guide assembly just described into operation, the spinning machine is started in the usual manner. To render available to a maximum extent the advantages of this invention, it is convenient to put into operation only every other bobbin of the machine, alternate bobbins being by any conventional means (not shown) disengaged from the driving mechanism. For purposes of this description, let it be assumed that the right hand bobbin of each pair is driven, that is, as viewed in Figure 1 bobbin bobbin l0 being inoperative during the first spinning period. Now assuming that bobbin H is driven and that traverse bar I2 is actuated in such a way that it passes to and fro axially of the bobbin, threading up is accomplished in the usual manner except that threading-up guide I4 and traverse thread guide 29 are both initially by-passed, the free end of freshly spun thread being attached directly to the surface of bobbin Since bobbin is driven, the thread will be pulled straight up and will slide along the right hand side of triangular member I5 (as viewed in Figure 2) when that member is moved forward by traverse bar l2. This will cause the thread to lodge between a portion of the base of triangular member l5 and arm N. If a loop is then pulled between threading-up guide l4 and bobbin II, the thread may be inserted in the groove of thread guide 29. When a thread is so disposed,

it can be accurately laid up on package I according to any pattern predetermined by adjustment of any known means for driving traverse bar l2.

When a package of suitable size has been built up on bobbin H, and as a consequence that bobbin must be dotted, the alternate sets of bob-- bins (in the illustration bobbin III) are placed in operation. The operator then breaks the thread at a point directly below threading-up guide ll, disengages it from guide H in one operation and then attaches the free end of the same to bobbin l0. At this time, the operation of bobbin |l may be stopped or may'continue until the entire machine has been changed over since, in either event, no further thread will be laid up thereon. After the thread is attached to bobbin I 0 the holder 2| is shifted to the left as viewed in Figure 1 where it assumes the broken line position. During this shift, guide 29 moves to a vertical position and then the counterweight 30 shifts over to the left side of holder 2|. This will cause guide 29 to contact rotating package I0 tangentially. Threading up through thread guide II and traversing thread guide 28 is as previously described.

Although the foregoing description has specific reference to but a single unit of a spinning machine, it is contemplated that the procedure outlined above be adopted with respect to each such unit with which the machine is equipped... It is, therefore, apparent that a spinning machine equipped with the present invention may operate continuously since the domng of a set of full bObbilJs may be effected during the winding of another set. The doiiing operation can be performed by a single operator since each unit, which includes a pair of bobbins, may be doffed individually.

Because of the fact that the thread guide 29 is pivoted at 24, it is moved radially .to accommodate the increased thickness of the package caused by the winding of succeeding convolutions of thread thereon. counterweight 30 serves to maintain guide 29 firmly against the surface of the package while the pressure is not suflicient to deleteriously affect the plastic thread.

Although in describing the operation of this device the desirability of driving alternative bobbins has been mentioned, it is evident that such an arrangement is not absolutely necessary since so long as only one bobbin' is driven the chief advantages of the invention are attainable.

In discussing the structure and operation of a specific embodiment of this invention, the application thereof to a bobbin spinning machine has been emphasized. Although it is apparent that the present invention is of particular utility in connection with such a machine, it is equally evident that it may be applied in any number of different types of winding operations. Clearly, therefore, the invention is of a scope to include all structures falling within the terms ofthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Winding apparatus comprising, at least two driven oppositely arranged collecting devices, a reciprocating member movable in a plane generally parallel to the axes of said devices, a thread guide. supported on said member and movable with respect thereto in a direction transverse to the axes of said devices to guide thread onto either of two oppositely arranged collecting devices. 7

2. Winding apparatus comprising, at least two driven oppositely arranged collecting devices, reciprocating means movable in a plane generally parallel to the axes of said collecting devices, and thread guiding means pivotally attached to said reciprocating means for rocking movement to laying up position with respect to either of two oppositely arranged collecting devices.

3. Winding apparatus comprising, at least two driven oppositely arranged collecting devices, reciprocating means movable in a plane generally parallel to the axes of said devices, and package contacting thread guiding means pivotally attached to said reciprocating means for rocking movement to package contacting position on either of two oppositely arranged collecting devices.

4. In a bobbin spinning machine including, at least two driven oppositely arranged bobbins, a package contacting thread guide, means for supporting said guide between two oppositely arranged bobbins for swinging movement to lay up thread on either of them, and means for reciprocating said supporting means in a path generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin.

5. In a bobbin spinning machine comprising, two series of bobbins arranged opposite to each other and a traverse bar movableto and fro in a plane generally parallel to the axes thereof, means pivotally attached to the traverse bar at number of pairs of oppositely arranged spinning bobbins and a traverse bar movable to and fro in a plane generally parallel to the axes thereof, a member pivotally attached to the traverse bar at the half-way point between oppositely arranged bobbins constituting each pair, and a traversing thread guide pivotally attached to the free end of the member, said thread guide including a bifurcated package contacting portion at one end and at the other end a counterweight, the point of pivotal attachment lying therebetween, the member being rockable in a direction transverse to the axes of'said bobbins to locate the point of pivotal attachment of the traversing thread guide in a plane perpendicular to the axis of either of the bobbins of the pair, whereby the bifurcated portion of the thread, guide may be shifted to contact tangentially either bobbin of the pair while the counterweight will serve to maintain the contact and the pivot point will allow movement of the traverse in a radial sense in response to increases in package diameter.

'7. In a bobbin spinning machine including, a a

bobbins and a traverse bar movable to and from aplane generally parallel to the axes thereof, a member pivotally attached to the traverse-bar at a point between oppositely arranged bobbins constituting each pair, a traversing thread guide pivotally attached to the free end of each member, said thread guide including a bifurcated package contacting portion at one end and at the other end a counterweight, the point of pivotal attachment lying therebetween, the member being rockable in a direction transverse to the axes of said bobbins to locate the point of pivotal attachment of the traversing thread guide in a plane perpendicular to the axis of either of the bobbins of the pair, and a threading-up guide attached to the traverse bar between each pair of oppositely arrangedbobbins, said threading-up guide being adapted to align thread with the bifurcated portion of the pivotally attached guide in either of its operative positions, whereby the bifurcated portion of the thread guide may be shifted to contact tangentially either bobbin of the pair while threading up thereof may be effected while the traverse bar is moving, due to the action of the threading-up guide.

8. In a bobbin spinning machine including, at least two driven oppositely arranged bobbins, a. package contacting thread guide, means for supporting said guide between two oppositely arranged bobbins for swinging movement to lay up thread on either of them, means .for reciprocating said supporting means in a path generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin, and a threading-up guide having a triangular front portion and arms extending parallel to, and rearwardly of, the base of the triangular portion,

- a point between each two oppositely arranged 7 which guide is attached to said supporting means and adapted to align thread with said package contacting thread guide in either position of the latter, whereby to permit threading up while the supporting means is reciprocated.

AR'I'I-IUR L. JACKSON. 

